The Collected Letters, Volume 23

… Nay, if the conditions never mend, and you cannot get that Bust1 to do at all, you may find yet (as often turns out in life) that it was better for you you did not. Courage! Persist in your career with wise strength, with silent resolution, with manful, patient, unconquerable
endeavour; and if there lie a talent in you (as I think there does), the gods will permit you to develop it yet.— Believe me, yours very sincerely,

TC-NNB, 25 Feb. Pbd: Fox 256. Nevill Northey Burnard (1818–78; ODNB), sculptor, chiefly of portrait busts, exhibiting at the Royal Acad., 1848–73; native of Cornwall, now in London. TC probably knew of him through the Quaker sisters Anna Maria (1816–97) and Caroline (1819–71; ODNB) Fox, living in Penjerrick, Cornwall (see TC to JAC, 11 Feb. 1840). This note had been forwarded by Burnard to Caroline, who recorded in her diary, 1 March, “a kindly note” from TC saying that he had seen her “gigantic countryman,” that “there is a real faculty in him,” and that
he had given Burnard advice and would “gladly help if he can” (Fox 255–56).